Solar power has its all-time best 1st quarter in 2013 adding 297 Mw

A record 297 megawatts of solar power were connect to the electric grid in the first quarter of 2013 –almost triple the installations for the same quarter in 2012, according to SNL Energy.

The first quarter of the year is historically the lowest for installed solar capacity, so the strong first quarter for utility-scale units may indicate “a banner year” for photovoltaic installations, according to SNL, a financial research and analysis firm.

The 2013 number is part on a long-term trend. In 2010, just 10 MW were installed in the first quarter. In 2011, 58 MW were installed and in 2012 it was 122 MW. In the fourth quarter of 2012 794 MW were installed.

The largest solar PV unit completed in the first quarter was the 100 MW unit at Antelope Valley Solar Ranch One in Los Angeles County and the the second- and third-largest units were the 66-MW unit at Alpine Solar in Los Angeles County, Calif. and the 26-MW unit at NRG Solar Borrego I in San Diego County.

The states with the most operating utility-scale solar units, in MW, are:

David joined The Denver Post in 1999, his second go-round in the Mile High City. Since then he’s covered a variety of topics – from human services to consumer affairs – most always with an investigative bent. Currently he does investigations and banking.